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Friday, July 31, 2015

I'll never forget. I was shopping in Target one day and got a phone call from my mom. She said that my grandpa, my only grandparent still living, only had a few months to live. I was so upset. I quickly left the store and cried and prayed all the way home, which was over an hour drive.

When I got back into town, I stopped at a local place to run an errand. I was greeted by someone who asked, "Hi, Lori! How are you today?" Well, I know we ask that question often without thinking or caring about how a person is really doing, as simply a formality, but I answered honestly, "Not very good. I just found out my grandpa is dying. This will be the third grandparent I've lost in just a few years time." Instead of hearing, "I'm so sorry! I will pray for you (or my family, my grandpa)," I heard a little laugh and then, "Well, pretty soon you won't have any left!"

Bam! That person said what I had been feeling, but made it 100% worse by just saying those words to me. I was shocked, no....I was STUNNED. How in the world could a fellow man/woman, a Christian, say something so hurtful to me at a time when I was hurting? And more than how...WHY? I still don't know and have never asked. I try to think that the person didn't mean it how it came out, but there really isn't any other way to take it! I've forgiven this person, but I will also say I know I'm not the only recipient of their hurtful, unthoughtful, careless words, often tactless throughout the years. I haven't shared the "who" behind my story, even though I've told it to a few people and am now sharing it with you.

The point of me telling you this story is this: Words hurt. They crush spirits. They ruin relationships, often before they ever start. We are having a growth moment in our house at this very moment, with one of our children learning a hard fact of life about how our words can wound.

Be careful with your words. There's a reason the book of James has so much to say about the tongue. It is very hard to control. In fact, the Bible says if we can control the tongue, we can control our whole bodies! It's a difficult task, more difficult for some than for others.

“We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.”

James 3:2

“Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”

Thursday, July 23, 2015

It's Zachary's 19th birthday! Happy birthday to him! He also just returned home from a trip to Vienna, Austria, on Sunday, so I'm using some of his trip photos for this post.

We were so excited to pick him up at the airport Sunday afternoon! It wasn't the longest trip he's been on, but it was definitely the farthest away he's been!

The group was part of a new trip to Vienna called, "First Class". Invitations were sent to all in-coming Freshman attending Oklahoma Christian in the fall. It was a wonderful opportunity that also provided each student with two credit hours towards their college degree.

Before they left the campus, they had a prayer.

Upon arriving in Vienna, Zachary quickly tried new things - such as KANGAROO!! I couldn't figure out why there was kangaroo in Austria, but he said it was an international festival going on and that Austria actually sells shirts that say: There are no kangaroos in Austria! I guess people get them confused with Australia! Ha ha!

It's hard to believe Zachary is 19 today, but as I've probably said every year for many years - we feel like we've been raising a 22 year old for quite some time. I laugh that he came out of the womb a little man because he did! :)

Zachary said his best meal was this tuna and caramelized onion pizza! He's going to duplicate it, he says!

I would rathe him duplicate this - GELATO! He said one guy had 35 scoops while they were there! He said it was delicious! I'm sure it was!

They saw some beautiful sites! This is a statue of Mozart, who was buried in Vienna for a while, then moved.

The night before he left Vienna, he told us we needed signs to pick up him up. I believed him so made some, but then he said he was joking. But, since the signs were made, we held them up at his arrival. It was funny! He liked it, though!

A few pictures the group posted showed the kids sleeping wherever and whenever they could. Zachary said that this was very comfy even though it sure doesn't look like it!

We're so thankful Zachary had this opportunity to bond with these students before getting to college. They grew in their faith, they grew in their friendship, and they grew in their maturity by being in different situations.

Happy birthday, Zachary! We are very proud of the man you are and the man you are striving to be. We're thankful that serving God and following Jesus is the very most important thing in your life and that you've decided to make that your career - to bring others to Him. May God bless you now and always and direct your steps in the path He would have you to go. I love you very much!
Mom

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

We had some new games and activities at QMCC this year. After the campers played lots of "big" games last year and enjoying it, we decided to make another "big" version of a game. Kerplunk! was really a lot of fun to play! My husband made the bottom stand then stapled the wire fence sheet in a circle attached to the base. The dowel sticks were inserted into the holes to keep the ball pit balls in place for the game.

And a super fun and exciting game was introduced this year: Human Hungry Hippos! It was so much fun!!!

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Last week our whole family was at Bible camp when my husband and our oldest son directed the session for 7th-12th grade. It was a great week studying the book of James and using the theme, "Under Construction".

The counselors and staff for the week met early Sunday morning for breakfast, worship, a meeting, and lunch, then we decorated the mess hall and got ready for the campers to arrive.

It was fun getting it ready and organized in advance, and made the check in time a lot less stressful!

Sunday was spent getting the campers into their cabins, organized into families, and introducing one another to each other and the counselors.

Later that evening they had a devo on the bigger mountain near camp.

There's just something about being out in nature and worshipping God. There's nothing else like it, actually! I'll share more about the week later! It was a GREAT week!